Boroma, SomaliaFour Somalis prepare to leave Boroma, a transit point for flight to Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 4, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaFour Somalis prepare to leave Boroma, a transit point for flight to Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaMen fleeing Somalia try to free their vehicle from mud after a heavy rainfall. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 4, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaMen fleeing Somalia try to free their vehicle from mud after a heavy rainfall. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaSomalis en route to Yemen try to repair their vehicle after trudging through muddy roads and rain in the dark. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 4, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaSomalis en route to Yemen try to repair their vehicle after trudging through muddy roads and rain in the dark. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaRefugees fleeing to Yemen walk through countryside in northern Somalia after their car has broken down. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 4, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaRefugees fleeing to Yemen walk through countryside in northern Somalia after their car has broken down. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, Somalia
Exhausted men sleep in the desert after traveling all night on muddy roads and in pouring rain. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.
Photo credit:
Reportage by Getty Images

March 5, 2010

Boroma, Somalia
Exhausted men sleep in the desert after traveling all night on muddy roads and in pouring rain. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.
Photo credit:
Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaPeople fleeing Somalia cross a road that has been flooded during heavy rains. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 6, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaPeople fleeing Somalia cross a road that has been flooded during heavy rains. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaFleeing Somalis rest near a safe-house before illegally crossing the border into Djibouti. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 6, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaFleeing Somalis rest near a safe-house before illegally crossing the border into Djibouti. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Boroma, SomaliaFleeing Somalis rest near a safe-house before illegally crossing the border into Djibouti. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 6, 2010

Boroma, SomaliaFleeing Somalis rest near a safe-house before illegally crossing the border into Djibouti. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Obock, DjiboutiHaving crossed into Djibouti, refugees trek across the desert to the port of Obock to find a boat to smuggle them into Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 10, 2010

Obock, DjiboutiHaving crossed into Djibouti, refugees trek across the desert to the port of Obock to find a boat to smuggle them into Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Djibouti City, DjiboutiRefugees crowd onto a beach late at night to board an illegal boat that they hope will carry them across the Gulf of Aden. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 29, 2010

Djibouti City, DjiboutiRefugees crowd onto a beach late at night to board an illegal boat that they hope will carry them across the Gulf of Aden. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Djibouti City, DjiboutiPeople swarm a boat that they hope will carry them illegally across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 29, 2010

Djibouti City, DjiboutiPeople swarm a boat that they hope will carry them illegally across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Gulf of AdenRefugees ride crammed into a tiny boat, heading illegally to Yemen. The boat broke down halfway across the Gulf of Aden, forcing the occupants to return to Djibouti, where they were arrested shortly after landing. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

March 29, 2010

Gulf of AdenRefugees ride crammed into a tiny boat, heading illegally to Yemen. The boat broke down halfway across the Gulf of Aden, forcing the occupants to return to Djibouti, where they were arrested shortly after landing. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.Photo credit:Reportage by Getty Images

Escape from Somalia

Contemporary Issues, first prize stories

March 4, 2010

Boroma, Somalia

Four Somalis prepare to leave Boroma, a transit point for flight to Yemen. Every year, thousands of people risk their lives crossing the Gulf of Aden to Yemen to escape conflict and poverty in the Horn of Africa. One third of those arriving are from Somalia, which has not had an effective central government for three decades and is torn apart by fighting. Some 6,600 Somalis reached Yemen in the first half of 2010.

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Ed Ou

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About the photographer

Ed Ou

Canadian photojournalist Ed Ou was born in 1987 and took up photography as a teenager, covering the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the fall of the Islamic Courts in Somalia, while he was studying politics in the Middle East. He later worked for Reuters and The Associated Press, covering stories ranging from conflict in the Middle East to fashion in New York City. After university, he moved to Kazakhstan and more recently focused his lens on refugees fleeing Somalia. Ou was selected as one of PDN's 30 Under 30 in 2008 and his work has been recognized by POYi and Best of Photojournalism, among others. He was a participant in the 2010 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. He is represented by Reportage by Getty Images.

Interviews

During the 2010 Joop Swart Masterclass, Canadian participant Ed Ou discusses his photo story Dancing with the Dead and his ongoing project Escape from Somalia, which won a prize in the 2011 contest.